Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (left), Benhur Abalos (Mayor Binay's office, Facebook)

The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial ticket barnstormed over the weekend the Bicol region--an area frequented by typhoons--as the administration cadidates capped the first month of the campaign period for the 2025 mid-term polls.

Two of them--Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos--were fully aware of how recent typhoons adversely affected local residents.

In Pili, Camarines Sur, Binay was warmly welcomed by local officials and employees, led by Mayor Tomas Bongalonta Jr. and Councilor Annalyn Bongalonta. The visit highlighted the enduring sisterhood between Makati and Pili, and showcased the strong collaboration between the two local government unit (LGUs).

Bongalonta thanked Binay for Makati's support to Pili during disasters, particularly when the city provided ₱1 million each for Typhoons "Enteng" and "Kristine".  

"When Makati provides aid to those affected by calamities, it is given freely—without the need for formal requests,” said the lady mayor.

During a meeting in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, attended by officials from the 4th district led by Congressman Arnie Fuentebella, Binay underscored the importance of providing salaries for barangay officials.  

The mayors also expressed their gratitude for Makati City's financial aid during Typhoon Kristine.  

"It is our duty to help other LGUs, especially those that struggle to get aid from the national government. We understand how difficult it is," Binay said.  

Bicolanos also warmly welcomed Abalos as he and the rest of the Alyansa bets carried out sorties in the crucial battleground.  

For Abalos, Bicol region will always have a special place in his heart since he has been frequently visiting the area before, particularly in Camarines Sur, to ask for a healing miracle from Our Lady of Peñafrancia when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Abalos is a devotee of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

As a result of the frequent visits, Abalos knows that the Bicol region has been a regular path of weather disturbances, particularly strong typhoons that came with strong winds and heavy downpour.

Last year, Camarines Sur and Albay were the worst hit by widespread flooding as a result of the onslaught of tropical storm Kristine.

“Ang Bicol ay laging dinadaanan ng mga bagyo. Kaya naman ang mga kalsada dito ay dapat typhoon-proof, which means, dapat hindi magiging lubak-lubak agad (Bicol has always neen on the path of typhoons. That's why the roads here must be made typhoon-proof, which means they shouldn't become unpaved that easily),” said Abalos.

Just recently, thousands of motorists were affected when a portion of the Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur was damaged as a result of the heavy downpour. 

The road leading to Bicol is considered as crucial since it is the route usually being taken by important goods heading to the Visayas region.

“Dapat tulungan ang mga taga-Bicol at makakaasa kayo na kung ano man ang mga programa dito at kasama ninyo ako (We must help Bicol resident and I assure you that I will support the programs here)” Abalos noted.